Automobile steering-gear lock



Jan. 16, H923.

E. P. CRANDALI.. AUTOMOBILE STEERING GEAR LocK.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l FILED SEPT` 28, 1920.

Il I Ill II E.Y P. CRANDALL. AuToMoB x E` STEERING GEAR LOCK Jan., 16, 1923.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fr LED SEPT. 28 l 920.

Patented dan. 16, 1923.'

earner nii/near P. CRANDALL, or WASHINGTON, DIsTnIcT or COLUMBIA.

AUTOMOBILE STEERING-GEAR LOCK.

Application filed September 28, 1920. Serial No. 413,344.

mobile, to ixedly secure the steering gear when the vehicle is not in use.

One of the fundamental purposes of this invention is to provide a simple and effective automobile lock of the permutation or key type, applicable-to the steering column at a; predetermined point infits length, and

having facilities for gripping the steeringpost againstY rotary movement ,to` pre-vent actuation of the lsteering gear when the vehicle is not in use.

Another important feature of athis lock `resides in its manner of. attachment, which enables application to any standard steering construction without necessitating the usual indentation or perforation of the steering post, which only weakens the latter andrenders it more susceptible to damage when subject-ed to severe torsional stresses. 4 Another important phase of this-invention is the arrangement which renders the lock effective by a. mere rotation ortwo of the lock housing, thus eliminating the use of key or permutation mechanism except for releasement purposes. rThis construction affords a further advantage, in that it is apt to frustrate anyl attempt to. tamper with the lock, since rotation of the housing Vfan only serve to bring the locking elements more' iirmly into engagement with .the steering post.

Other important features of thisinven-V tion are: to design an automobile lock which may be released by a permutation lock mechanism or through the -instrumentality of a standard key lock construction, depending upon thel desire of the user; to provide a simple automobile lock capable of being quickly disassembled for purposes of repair or substitution of Worn parts; and inally, to aford a lock mechanism by which any attempts to tamper with or release the lock other than in the proper manner will result `tremely artistic appearance.

in further increasing the frictional action of the gripping members upon the steering post.

lilith these and other objects in view.` which will become apparent a's-thev description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Awhich like characters of reference indicate like part-s throughout the`several figures, of which: Y

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectionized view of the lock in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevation of tion lock releasing mechanism; p

Figs. L and 5, are transverse vertical sections on the lines 4--4 and 5 5, respectively, of Fig. l);

Fig. 6 is a Jfragmentary sectionized view of. the lock in operative position Showing modified form of releasing means; and

i Figi' is a detailed' perspective view of the key controlled type of releasing means.

Various efforts as indicated by the prior art, have been made to provide a simple and inexpensive locking mechanism capable of effectively locking the steering gear of an automobile, but the constructions so far designed have proyen more or less objectionable as being either too elaborate in mechanical details, and consequently, expensive to install, or else, their application has been found to dangerously weaken the steering post. lt is, therefore, the purpose of. this invention to design a lock of the character a permutaspecified which embodies but few parts, may

be easily attached to any standard steering column, and when so positioned functions as a reenforcement and presents an ex- Brieiiy stated, this invention comprises a split ring housing designed to embrace the steering column, `oppcsitely positioned gripping elements adapted to frictionally engage the'exterior surface of the steering post, one of the elements being depressible, a lock housing rotatable in one direction to actuate the depressible element and bring` the same into frictional engagement with the steering post, and a permutation mechamsm co-acting with the lock housing to .element and releasement of the lock.

Reference being' had to the accompanying' drawings, thei'e is shown a i'ragment ot at standard steering post 1 and its enclosing.

column 2, which is 'formed with oppositely located openings 3 and 3', excepting' these openings, the above is standard construction and is referred to for descriptive purposes only.

'F or the sake of convenience and to enable ready comprehension of this invention it shall be divided into the following' headings and considered in the order specified, namely, split ring housing', comb-ined ratchet and plunger sleeve, plungers, lock housing', thrust plate construction, permutation or key release mechanisnnoperation, and conclusion.

Split ring housing.

Embracing steering' column 2 is a split ring,- housing 4 hinged as at 5 and externally threaded as at G and 7, the opposing' irfaces of the free ends of tlie'housiiig' being,` machined to produce opening 3 aligning' with opening' 3 in the steering column, and terminating in an annular seat 9.

I Uombz'nec mio/zet and vpZ/mger sleeve.

Extendingthioug'h the opening 3 and into the-interior'fof the steering column through opening 3is a plunger sleeve lO'liaving an annular flange 11, designed to lit Within seat 9. Sleeve 10 is also `formed with an extension '12 externally toothed to provide a ratchet 13 secured against rotary movement by dovvel pins l14 projecting' from flange 11 into split ring housing 4.

. Plum/ers.

A plunger/15 is slidably positioned Within sleeve 10,and also passes through opening' 3 ot the' steering' lcolumn to co-operate with an oppositely positioned plunger 16 extendingthrough the opening' 3, tov engage opposite sides ot the steering post. The engaging surfaces ot the pluiigers 15 and 16 are arcuate shaped to contorni to the contour ofthe steering' post, and serrated to assist the gripping` action of the plungei's. The outer extremity of plunger 16 is formed with a flange 17 tov maintain the plunger in proper operative position. The outer extremity of plunges.' 15 terminates in a cony ical shaped head 13. spring 19 encircling' plunger 15 immediately beneath its head tends to normally 'maintain said plunger in a retracted position.

Lock housing.

An annular lockA housing' 20 internally threaded as at 21 engages the exteriorly threaded surface 7 of split ring housing 4.

Housing 2O is intei'iorly 'formed with annular inter-commuiiicating recesses 22 and Ta/mst plate const'mctz'on.

A thrust plate 24 seats Within the opening 22 and is fixedly secur d to the lock housing' by a suitable 'fastening' means, `in the present instance, screivs 25. The inner tace of the thrust plate 24 is formed with a central cavity 26 ofsuiiicient depth to accommodate ratchet 13. `Within the periphery of plate 24 above ratchet 13 is a pivotally mounted spring pressed paivl 2'? adapted to normally eiig'ageratcliet 13 and prevent rotation of the locli housing except in a clockwise direction. l

pin 28 extends laterally from the 'head of paivl 27 'loi' apui'pose which Will hereinafter appear. l/Vithin cavity 26 of the thrust plate and central thereof Ais a bearing` block 29 having` a depression corresponding; iii contour to the tip of plunger head '13 which it is intended 'to receive, clearly shown in Figs. `1 and 2. The outer face of thrust plate E24-.is formed 1.vitli an annular depression 30` opening into a. flared lrecess 31, constituting' a seat for the arcuately movable lever 32. The free extremity of lever 32 is beveled as at 33 to atford aA Fermentation or 106g/ release mechanism.

, Lever 32 for elevatingpaivl27V may be rotated by a permutation mechanism such as is shown and described in my Patent No. 1,230,126, patented June 19, 1917, and embodyiiig` generally, a revolvable dial plate 34, shaft 35, tumblers 36, and spring pressed detent 37, the latter When in operative position serving to connect the shaftv 35 to the dial plate 34. In the event this structure is employed, dial plate is fitted to the open extremity Aof the loclr lioiisiiig,'iifith shaft 35 and its accoinpanying parts'located Within the opcning23 ot, the lock housing. rllhe inner end of shaft 35 is squared and pro-V jects into a similarly shaped openingv in lever 32 v,wherein it is secured bypin 38', vthus permitting operation of the lever when the proper combination has been effected.

Should it be desirable, a key controlled type of release mechanism may be substituted toi' the permutation arrangement just described, whereupon the design shown in Fig'. 6 is employed. This design generally, embodies lrey Aplate 39, lock barrel 40, and shaft 41,V the key plate being fitted to the open end of the housing, With lock barrel 40 and shaft 41 extending' into openingA 23.

Although tivo types of release mechanisms have been referred to, it is to be understood that the lever 32 may be actuated by any of the standard constructions now used for devices of this kind, since manifestly any releasement device having Suitable dimensions could be readily inserted in the open end of the lock housing, and operatively connected to the lever 32.

A ring 42 internally threaded as at 43 engages the externally threaded surface 6 of the split ring housing. This ring is provided yvith a depending pin 44 which projects into the annular groove 45 circumscribing the locl; housing. The purpose of this construction is to limit the longitudinal movement of the lock housing to prevent complete disengagement from the split ring housing.

Operation.

Assuming the components of this lock assembled as in Figs.l l and 2, but with the plunger retracted, to render the lock effective the lool; housing is rotated clock-Wise until this movement is checked by the resistance offered by the plunger, which in the meantime, owing to the rotary movement of the housing', has been longitudinally actuated into binding engagement With the steeringpost to prevent rotation of the latter. This locks the steering gear, which cannot be released except by counter clock-Wise movement of the lock housing, this, however', is prevented by the pawl of the thrust plate being in engagement with the rachet of the plunger sleeve.

To release the lock, the proper combination is effected or key used, in which event, the pawl of the thrust plate is disengaged from the ratchet on the plunger sleeve through the instrumentality of the lever of the permutation or lrey controlled mechanism, this elevation of the paivl permits counter. clock-Wise rotation of the lock housing and retractile movement of the plunger under the influence of its spring' which thus renders the lock inactive.

Uonclusz'oa.

In conclusion, it Will be manifest the foregoing structure provides a steering gear loci; which is simple, readily manipulated, and produces a maximum 0f protection against unlawful operation of the vehicle to which it is applied.

Although in the foregoing, certain elements may have been set forth as best adapted to perform the functions allotted to them, nevertheless, it is to be understood that various minor changes as to form, substance, etc., may be resorted to Within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, and Without enumerating variations and equivalents, What I desire protected by Letters Patest is as set forth in the following claims:

l. A steering'gear lock comprising a movable plunger, means rotatable in one direction to depress the plunger and normally looked against movement in the opposite flirection, and additional means co-acting with the first mentioned means permitting op- Jration of the latter in the Opposite direction and restoration of the plunger to its initial position, such means including a fixed ratchet and rotary pawl, with mechanism for elevating` said pawl.

2. A steering gear lock, comprisinga movable plunger having operative and inoperative positions, means rotatable in one direction to actuate the plunger to operative position, such means being normally locked against movement in the opposite direct-ion, and additional means co-acting with the first mentioned means to permit rotation of the latter in the opposite direction and restoration of the plunger to inoperative position, such means including a fixed ratchet and rotary paivl, With mechanism for elevating said paWl.

3. A steering gear lock, comprising a movable plunger, means capable of clock-wiso and anticlock-wise rotation, such means being normally locked against anticloclr-Wise movement and operable clock-Wise to depress the plunger, and additional means coacting with the iirst mentioned means to permit its anticloclr-wise movement and enable restoration of the plunger to its initial position, such means including a fixed ratchet and rotary pavvl, with mechanism for elevating said paivl.

4L. A steering gear lock, comprising a housing adapted to embrace the steering post column of an automobile, a retractile plunger slidably mounted Within the housing, a rotatable member engaging the housing and operable clock-Wise to depress the plunger but normally held against anti clock-Wise movement, and releasement mechanism associated with said member to permit anticlock-Wise movement thereof and restoration of the plunger to its initial position, such mechanism including a fixed ratchet and a rotary pavvl, with means for elevating the paWl.

5. A steering gear lock, comprising a housing adapted to embrace the steering post column of an automobile, a retractile plunger slidably mounted Within the housing and depressible into frictional engagement with the steering post, a rotatable member engaging the housing and operable clock-Wise to depress the plunger but normally held against an'ticloclr-Wise movement, and releasement mechanism associated with said member to permit a11ticloek-wise movement thereof and restoration of the plunger to its initial position, suoli mechanism including a fixed ratchet and a coacting paWl, With means for elevating the paml.

G. The combination with an automobile steering post; of a retraetile plunger operable into engagement with the post, means cooperating with the plunger capable oi clock-'Wise and anticloclc-Wise rotation, such means being normally locked against anti- Clock-Wise movement and operable cloek- Wise to depress the plunger, and additional means ooacting With the first mentioned means to permit its anticlook-Wise move- 15 nient and enable restoration of the plunger to its initial position, such means including a lixed ratchet and a rotary pawl with mechanism for elevating the paw-l.

EMERY P. @RANDALL Vitnesses:

C. DUDLEY SHREVE, VILL T. GORDON. 

